Movie News

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Chris's Review: ‘Elysium’ offers solid action & dazzling visuals

Neill Blomkamp's ELYSIUM, starring Matt Damon

Science-fiction is a genre you almost certainly always have to take with a sizable grain of salt. If not, then we should all be outraged at not having flying cars and robot butlers – or in Elysium’s case, personal cure-all medical tubes. Unfortunately, we do not and will not for the foreseeable future.

Where is my Rosie?

In Elysium, the new sci-fi action film from director Neill Blomkamp (District 9),
the world is polluted and vastly overpopulated. In an effort to
preserve their way of life, the wealthiest of the wealthy have made for
themselves a new home on Elysium, a floating, circular space station
hovering just above Earth like out of Kubrick’s 2001. It is
close enough to remain connected, but far enough to escape the hardships
and unpleasantries. Despite its apparent ruined nature, the film’s
camera amazingly captures the vast blue-tinted planet at its most
gorgeous, just off the horizon of Elysium. For most on Elysium, the
Earth is nothing but an ignored memory and a window dressing.

Whoops, wrong movie and wrong "Elysium"

Back on Earth, a ripped, bald-headed, and tatted up Matt Damon
stars as Max, a criminal turned reluctant factory worker. He lives in
the crowded, multi-racial slum that is Los Angeles coated with a
permanent cloud of dust, graffiti, and trash – an extremely similar
destitute setting as District 9’s Johannesburg (minus the aliens).

Interesting fact: Eminem was first considered for Damon's role in ELYSIUM

In a rather repetitive and unnecessarily saccharine framing device,
Max, as an orphan child, dreams of escaping to Elysium, but is told it
was not possible for someone like him, and as an adult, he knows this to
be true. In an attempt to make a better life for himself on Earth, he
keeps his head down and follows the rules. But when a brutal assembly
line accident exposes him to a lethal dose of radiation, he will stop at
nothing to gain passage to Elysium, where the technology exists and is
readily available to heal him.

To do this, he reintegrates himself into the local crime
syndicate/lower-class rebellion and with its leader, a spastic hacker
named Spider. Weakened by the radiation, he is affixed to a robotic
exoskeleton that might make Doc Ock jealous, with a built-in computer
and USB port directly to his brain. If Max is able to complete one big
job for Spider, then he gets a free ride to Elysium on a renegade
transport and a chance to save himself.

And you thought today's politicians were ruthless . . .

Standing firmly in his way is an impenetrable class system, as in
those "up there" and those "down here." Money and power bought them an
escape, and now, it ensures their safety at all cost. Elysium’s citizens
are oblivious and the space habitat’s Secretary of Defense Delacourt
(played palpable haughtiness by Jodie Foster) prefers it that way. Powerful, but restrained by Elysium’s president, Delacourt enlists the help of Kroger (District 9’s Sharlto Copley), a borderline insane sleeper agent hiding on Earth to stop Max.

Maybe Spike Lee's OLDBOY remake won't suck after all

Elysium’s two strongest aspects are the excellently shot
action sequences and the beautifully rendered special effects and
imagery. World building is such a crucial aspect of futuristic sci-fi
and Blomkamp and his team have crafted an awe-inspiring dual world (the
grimy slum and pristine oasis). Both seem so realistic and authentic as
potential real world futures. They are sprinkled with touches of
standard sci-fi fare, such as Star Wars-like droids, spaceships
built like cars, and a scene-stealing, vintage novelty parole officer.
But sprinkled just is not enough, and we are left wishing the film
delved more into this fascinating world.

"I always thought Matt Damon was kind of a Streisand, but he's rocking the shit in this one." - The 40-Year Old Virgin

Damon proved himself a more than capable action star with the Bourne
series and continues that here, even with a less stylized action as
those films. Foster is commanding and wicked, but all too brief in what
is, ultimately, an underwritten role. The real scoundrel here is Copley,
who really shines in a demented and unhinged role (which holds out hope
for his equally villainous role in the upcoming Oldboy remake).
Each actor does their best with one-dimensional characters and clichéd
action movie dialogue, while the supporting cast is mostly stuck with
all-too-brief and thankless roles (especially Diego Luna and Alice Braga
as Max’s closest allies).

"I am a woman and my child is sick" = her entire character

Like many ambitious sci-fi films, it is, of course, impossible not to
notice the obvious political underpinnings of the film, as with
Blomkamp’s District 9. Though universal health care and
immigration reform are such integral aspects of the film, the film does
not get overly preachy (until perhaps, the very end). It mostly presents
things as this is an exaggerated version of what it is like today, but
perhaps a change is needed or it could get worse. Politics and
contemplation take a backseat to the in-your-face action, which
depending on your sociological leanings, which might be good thing.

Pew! Pew!

Though flawed, Elysium is still an exciting and fun movie to
watch. And perhaps too much is unfairly expected of Blomkamp after his
surprising debut film. While perhaps not as good overall as District 9, Elysium is still far better than most sci-fi action films, especially this year (After Earth, Oblivion, etc.).

* * * ½ out of 5 stars

Elysium Trailer:

This review and others are also available on my examiner.com page, here.